Need Advice About Toddler Beds

Updated on
February 01, 2010

V.K.
asks from
Kerrville, TX
on January 31, 2010

18
answers

My daughter is 14 months old and I am wondering at what age to transition her to a toddler bed? My husband and I found a really nice looking bed at Wal-Mart for about 60 dollars. I know that I wouldn't want her in a toddler bed now....She's not started walking yet. Any advice? Thanks!

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So What Happened?

I have decided to wait a while and then put her into a twin size bed when she starts climbing out of her crib. Thank you all for the great advice!

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S.O.

answers from
San Antonio
on
February 01, 2010

We did not spend money on a toddler bed for any of the boys. Lots of money, lots of hype about them, very short lifespan.
When the boys were climbing out of the crib, we moved them to a twin mattress on the floor. Later we bought the box spring, and put that underneath. Both still on the floor. When the kids were about 4 or 5, we bought the frame and put the set on a frame.

Had the youngest really like the set on the floor. He was 11 before he wanted the frame underneath. Fine by us.

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D.P.

answers from
Pittsburgh
on
January 31, 2010

I wouldn't rush it. Keep in crib til 3 or crawling out is what I've heard. I got a toddler bed fr my son when he was about 2 and it is a new NIGHTMARE stage! At 3, she'll be better able to understand to stay in her bed/room. Also, please realize that you can't use bed rails on a toddler bed, so if you buy O. without "built in sides, you can't have "sides".. Personally, I'd wait as long as possible then just buy whatever bed you're going to get for her room--and use the rails. Good luck!

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S.C.

answers from
Fort Wayne
on
January 31, 2010

We transitioned my daughter right after her 2nd birthday. She wasn't climbing out of her crib or anything, I just thought she was ready. But, I would discourage a toddler bed. Our crib converts and that's the ONLY reason she was in a toddler bed. I'd take the money and put it toward a nice twin bed. You can get the side guards at just about any store. Or, just take a big beach towel, roll it up and stuff it under the sheet. You can also use a bolster type pillow under the sheet.

There is no set age for transitioning, just whenever you think she's ready.

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C.M.

answers from
Austin
on
February 01, 2010

I would skip the toddler bed and go for the twin. Invest in a nice mattress that will be comfy for a while. We used a rail thingy to keep the kids from falling out. Not that there was ever a problem. Also, and I know it's terrible, but when the kids have bad dreams or are wakeful in the middle of the night, there is room for me to lay down with them for a little while instead of them coming into our bed.

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S.X.

answers from
Chicago
on
January 31, 2010

we bought the same bed and its in storage... but we are going to wait till around 2, which is what we did with my son. I have a friend that kept her daughter in a crib until she was 3. it depends on if they are climbing out and how secure they feel.

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B.W.

answers from
Minneapolis
on
January 31, 2010

I wouldn't even consider it until after age 2. Why mess with what works... if she's content in her crib, leave her there until she is at the very least age 2, or outgrows it. Then I would skip the toddler bed altogether and go with a twin. Much longer use out if it.

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J.F.

answers from
Minneapolis
on
January 31, 2010

We waited until after my daughter turned 2 and just moved her to her Big Girl Bed this month. Our crib is a lifetime one, but we have baby #2 coming in 3 months. Otherwise, we would have left her in the crib (as a crib) for much longer. There is no reason to rush something unless you have to.

We put a twin mattress and box spring on the floor. She loves it and I like being able to actually kiss her goodnight after she is tucked in (let alone being pregnant and not having to lift her over the rails!).

Skip the toddler bed and spend your money on a NICE twin/full sized mattress and box spring depending on what you want her in later and some new bedding and mattress cover. I know those toddler beds look cute, but she will outgrow it sooner than you think and you'll have to spend money again. And, if you are thinking of having another babe in the near future, you may need her mattress before she is done with it (unless you buy another one!)

Just my two cents!

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R.B.

answers from
College Station
on
February 01, 2010

There's really not a right or wrong time to move to a toddler bed, or even to a big bed. With my oldest, we got a toddler bed when he was a little over 1 1/2, but he really only slept in it occasinally since he preferred to sleep with us. Both of my girls moved out of their crib around the age of 2--my older girl into a twin bed (the bottom bunk with her older brother on the top) a few months shy of two, and my younger girl into a toddler bed that she got for her 2nd birthday. With her, I chose a toddler bed because it took up the same amount of space as the crib so I wouldn't have to rearrange furniture when I took her out of the crib. My sister-in-law moved her older boy into a toddler bed at about a year because she was expecting his baby brother 3 months later and didn't want to buy another crib. Also, I've had a number of friends who skipped the toddler bed and went with a twin mattress that they just placed on the floor of the room rather than on a frame so that if the child rolled off, they didn't have far to fall. Just listen to your own instincts about when to make the transition and what kind of transition to make that works for your family's needs.

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E.B.

answers from
Houston
on
February 01, 2010

Skip the toddler bed and get a nice twin (or full size bed) and buy the Fisher Price bed rail that folds down. It is easy to fold down to change the bed or make it easy for you to get in bed w/ her- and then folds up to keep your child from rolling out. We had a toddler bed and NOBODY slept in it! Bought one for my son- he asked for it and picked it out. He slept in it one night and then moved to the guest room full size bed on his own. Tried it again for my daughter and she didn't like it either. Not sure what it was they didn't like since it was the same mattress they had been sleeping on - but it was NOT a success and really they don't need one. Gave it away before I even bothered with my third trying it. And when you get a "real" mattress, buy the zippered plastic mattress covers that completely cover the mattress and put it under the mattress pad. That way your bed isn't ruined the first time a diaper leaks or someone throws up. I think most of my kid's beds still have those plastic covers on them and they are all teens now! Good luck.

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G.G.

answers from
Austin
on
February 01, 2010

My advice is to keep her in her crib until she tries to climb out. It will make your life SOOOOO much easier! My son climbed out at 2 yrs, 3 months and that's when we moved him. My daughter is 2 and a half and is still in her crib (she has never even attempted to climb out). If she seems content by the age of 3, we'll go ahead and move her into a big girl bed (just skipping the toddler bed all together). I know numerous people who transitioned their kids at 18 months and it was oh so painful for them! Don't do it!!! :)

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A.A.

answers from
Waco
on
February 01, 2010

Transition her when she starts to try to climb out of her crib. For every child, it's a different age. Ours was around 18 months when she started trying to climb out.

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D.G.

answers from
Chicago
on
January 31, 2010

I would wait as long as possible before getting a toddler bed. Just remember once they are out of the four walls that confine them - they can be on the loose in your house. I waited until my son tried to climb out and did so successfully before I took him out of his crib - 3 years old. My 2 year olds are still in a crib and will stay there as long as possible. My 3 year old puts up a fuss at bed time - gets out constantly, plays with toys in the room, tries to get into my bed, walks around the house. I can spend hours trying to get him to go back into bed. As far as buying a toddler bed - I would just buy a twin bed and be done with it. Why spend 60 on a toddler bed and then when the child is 5/6 you have to buy another twin bed. I bought my three year old a twin bed and bought the side protectors from amazon to keep him from falling out. It works well when he is actually in his bed.

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C.M.

answers from
Austin
on
February 01, 2010

We kept our daughter in her crib until she was 4. She is short for her age, though. A crib mattress is the same as a toddler bed size. We just took the front off the crib and put a toddler rail on the front, when she was 2.5. When she was 4, we bought a twin size mattress and put it on the floor, which you could do anytime instead of a "toddler bed". So my advice is to save your money. When your daughter outgrows her crib, just move her up to the next size you want, twin or full. Keep it on the floor for a few months until she gets used to it or is big enough to climb into a higher bed. Or if you are expecting #2 child, then that's when you switch to a big girl bed. Keep her in her crib as long as you can. Once you give the freedom of another bed, you will be trading for a whole different set of challenges.

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J.D.

answers from
Philadelphia
on
January 31, 2010

i remember when I was thinking about switching my daughters, someone pointed out to me that it's much easier if you ever need/want to lay down with your child, if they have a twin bed or bigger. Does your crib switch to a toddler bed? I never even bothered with one... we just went straight to a twin bed for both of my girls. The first one we switched at 17 months because she climbed out of her playard (and I needed to crib for her 2 month old sister! LOL), and there were no problems. My younger one might have stayed in the crib longer, but she switched before she was 2. Most people keep them in there longer... it's really up to you though.

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J.T.

answers from
Victoria
on
February 01, 2010

that is a deal! our crib turns into a toddler bed. we still have our two yr old son in the crib. we will keep him in it untill he starts potty training or untill he starts climbing out.

loving the idea of skiping the toddler bed and going to a twin. i have also seen daybeds turned around against the wall so the back is on the outside. preventing falls (some consirnes about getting traped between wall and bed though). you could also put the crib mattress on the floor next to the twin incase of falls. and scoot it under the twin durring the day.

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B.K.

answers from
New York
on
January 31, 2010

We moved our son into his toddler bed (converted crib) at age 2. He just seemed ready and he went into a "big boy bed" (full size bed) at 2 1/2. If he would sleep at my parents house, he was in a regular bed and he did fine.
I am pregnant now with my second and I think I would skip the toddler bed this time around.
I agree with Jill. Save your money and put it towards her big girl bed 8-)

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A.B.

answers from
San Antonio
on
February 01, 2010

The crib is safest until it becomes unsafe--basically when the child can climb and escape. It happens to some at 1 1/2, and others can wait until 3 and beyond. The longer you can wait, the easier the transition because it's hard to make a 1 1/2-year-old understand that she should stay in her bed, but they need to be moved if they can climb out.

Although our crib becomes a toddler bed, we are using a futon we already had because it's so close to the ground and our daughter rolls a LOT and falls out. Even with rails, we were afraid to get a twin bed, so if we hadn't had the futon, we would have gotten the toddler bed. If you don't NEED the toddler bed for that reason, you can save money by going straight to the twin. Good luck!

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M.A.

answers from
Houston
on
January 31, 2010

My daughter will be three in February. She went into a toddler bed about 3 months ago....she did it. I waited for signs from her. Just like "getting her off the bottle" and introducing "solids", I just KNOW when its right. Follow your instincts. Do what YOU think is right...not a timeline. Dont let others dictact what is "right" for you and your kiddo...only y'all know.